Method to secure an electronic assembly executing any algorithm against attacks by error introduction

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an automatic method to secure an electronic calculation assembly against attacks by error introduction or by radiation. The following are used: 1) Static information generated by the automatic process; 2) A dynamic part of the memory of the electronic system allocated by the automatic process; 3) Beacons and check points to mark out the code, introduced by the automatic process; 4) Beacon functions storing information in the dynamic memory; 5) History verification functions using the static information and the dynamic memory to check that no errors have been introduced.

This invention concerns a method to secure an electronic assembly implementing any algorithm where a check must be carried out to ensure that the algorithm was executed correctly, whether for the intermediate steps of the various functions (execution of code, loops, tests, etc.) or for the calls between functions. More precisely, the purpose of the method is to produce a version of the implementation which is not vulnerable to certain types of attack through introduction of one or more errors—known as Fault Analysis or Extended Fault Analysis—which attempt to obtain information about one or more data items or operations involved in the calculation by studying the calculation procedure of the electronic assembly when one or more errors are introduced.

This invention covers all implementations where it is essential to ensure that all steps involved during the calculation were error-free. The first appearance of such attacks dates back to 1996:

-   -   Ref (0): New Threat Model Breaks Crypto Codes—D. Boneh, R.         DeMillo, R. Lipton—Bellcore Press Release

Another objective of the method is to propose a defence against attacks by radiation, flash, light, laser, glitch or other and more generally against any attack disturbing the execution of the program instructions known as disturbance attack. These attacks modify the instructions to be executed, resulting in non-execution or incorrect execution of certain parts of the program.

The purpose of the method according to this invention is to eliminate the risks of attacks by disturbance or attacks by fault injection on electronic assemblies or systems by modifying the functions involved in the calculation.

The method to secure an electronic assembly implementing a traditional calculation process which must be error free, subject of this invention, is remarkable in that the functions implemented in the calculation are modified by adding in several positions and automatically:

-   -   Dynamic memory allocation     -   Static information.     -   Check objects called “Beacons” and “Check points”.     -   Calls to “beacon” and “history verification” functions which, in         addition, will use the dynamic and static memory.

The method uses the control flow graph of the program to be protected to generate the static information used by the verification functions.

The beacon is information defining the characteristics of the corresponding passage point and/or one or more other passage points.

According to one form of realisation of the invention, the beacon is an integer locating the beacon in the code to be protected.

According to another form of realisation, the beacon is a Boolean variable defining whether it is the first or the last beacon.

According to a special form of the invention, the beacon is a data structure characterising, according to the value of a register or a given variable, all beacons through which passage will be forbidden (using a verification function) in the remaining execution.

According to another special form of realisation of the invention, the beacon is a data structure characterising, according to the value of a register or a given variable, all beacons whose passage will be forced (using a verification function) in the remaining execution.

The forms of realisation mentioned can be combined: the beacon may consist of several of the elements described above.

The beacon and verification functions use a shared area of the system memory.

The shared memory contains a data structure of type stack, of type Boolean array and/or of type number storing a checksum.

A beacon function is one which is called by the program at each passage by a beacon and which consists in storing dynamically in the shared memory various items of information concerning the beacon, and possibly of performing a check on the execution.

According to a special form of realisation of the invention, the beacon function is one which pushes the beacon onto the stack in the shared memory.

According to another form of realisation, the beacon function is one which updates a checksum contained in the shared memory with the beacon data.

Said forms of realisation can be combined.

A history verification function is one called at each check point to check the consistency of the information stored in the shared memory during the successive calls of the beacon functions.

The static memory calculated by the automatic process is a beacon stack list representing a valid beacon passage history and/or a list of checksums obtained from a valid beacon passage history.

With a checksum, the checksum is obtained by using the add function, by using the Exclusive Or (XOR) function, by using an ordinary checksum and/or by using a hashing cryptographic function.

The “Beacon” and “Check point” objects, the “Beacon Function” and “History Verification Functions” as well as the shared memory will be described generically below and examples will also be given.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other purposes, features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows of the implementation of the method according to the invention and of a mode of realisation of an electronic assembly designed for this implementation, given as a non-limiting example, and referring to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a mode of realisation of an electronic module according to this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a graph representing the steps of the method according to this invention.

WAY OF REALISING THE INVENTION

The purpose of the method according to the invention is to secure an electronic assembly and for example an onboard system such as a smart card implementing a program. The electronic assembly comprises at least a processor and a memory. The program to be secured is installed in the memory, for example ROM type, of said assembly.

As a non-limiting example, the electronic-assembly described below corresponds to an onboard system comprising an electronic module 1 illustrated on FIG. 1. This type of module is generally realised as a monolithic integrated electronic microcircuit, or chip, which once physically protected by any known means can be assembled on a portable object such as for example a smart card, integrated circuit card or other card which can be used in various fields.

The microprocessor electronic module 1 comprises a microprocessor CPU 3 with a two-way connection via an internal bus 5 to a non volatile memory 7 of type ROM, EEPROM, Flash, FeRam or other containing the program PROG 9 to be executed, a volatile memory 11 of type RAM, input/output means I/O 13 to communicate with the exterior.

1. Principle

1.1 Beacons and Beacon Function

Definition

-   -   A beacon will be an item of information which will define the         characteristics of the passage point.     -   A beacon function will be one which will be called by the         program at each passage by a beacon and which will consist in         storing in the shared memory various items of information         concerning the beacon, and possibly of performing a check on the         execution.

EXAMPLES

A beacon could be, for example:

-   -   An integer used to find the location of said beacon or a Boolean         variable defining whether it is the first or the last beacon for         example.     -   A complex structure describing a set of information concerning         the current state of the electronic device executing the code.         For example, a data structure characterising, according to the         value of a register or a given variable, all beacons through         which passage will be forbidden (using the beacon function or         the verification function) in the remaining execution.

A beacon function could, for example, perform the following operations:

-   -   See whether the beacon is the first beacon (using a field         specific to the beacon). If yes, create an empty stack in shared         memory, push the beacon onto the stack and continue the code,         otherwise push the beacon onto the stack and continue executing         the code.

1.2 Check Points, History Verification

Definition

-   -   A check point will be a data structure containing information         which will be used by the history verification function.     -   The history verification function is one called at each check         point to check the consistency of the information stored in the         shared memory during the successive calls of the beacon         functions.

EXAMPLES

-   -   A check point may consist of all lists of beacons corresponding         to authorised executions leading to this check point.     -   The verification function could be the check that the stack of         beacons crossed corresponds to one of the lists of the check         point. Otherwise, an error is detected.

2. Form of Realisation

We will now describe as an example the operation of a C code preprocessor which implants the error detection semi-automatically.

The C source code is input to the preprocessor which converts this code to include the error detection.

This conversion is guided by the directives included in the code and which specify the beacons which must be introduced. These directives may take the following forms:

-   -   1. start: this directive specifies that the stack of beacons         crossed successively must be emptied.     -   2. flag: this directive specifies the introduction of a new         beacon which must be pushed onto the stack at each passage.     -   3. verify: this directive specifies the introduction of a check         point which will perform, whenever it is crossed, a check that         all beacons stacked correspond to permissible execution.     -   4. race n cond: this directive specifies the introduction of a         beacon which indicates when it is crossed that if the Boolean         expression cond is true, then only the executions in family n         are permissible. This type of family is defined by all         directives of the following type.     -   5. flag In1 . . . ink m1 . . . mk: this directive specifies that         the executions of families n1 . . . nk must not pass by this         point and that the executions of families m1 . . . mk must pass         by this point.     -   6. Loop n: this directive specifies the entry into a loop to be         repeated n times.

An example will now be given in language C including directives intended for the preprocessor. Function int f(int x, int d) performs action1(d) three times, then action2(d) if x is equal to 1. Function action2(int d) performs action21(d) then action22(d).

The directives are placed in the code as #pragma. Their effects are indicated in comments. int f (int x,int d) { int i; /* starting point of the program part to be protected */ #pragma start /* definition of the possible scenarios (optional) */ #pragma race 0 x != 1 #pragma race 1 x == 1 for(i=0; i<3; i++) { /* tells cfprotect that this loop has 3 turns */ #pragma loop 3 #pragma flag action1(d); } /* all the race must pass here, the flags are automatically numbered */ #pragma flag if (x == 1) { action2(d); } /* verification of the stack consistency, i.e. that the stack of flags  is consistent regarding the control flow of the program */ #pragma verify } void action2(int d) { /* the race 1 must pass here and race 0 must not */ #pragma flag !0 1 #pragma verify action21(d); action22(d); } The following code is output from the precompiler: /********************************************************************/ #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION #ifndef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION_HEADER #define CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION_HEADER #include <string.h> char _control_flow_stack[8]; char _cf_stack:_index=0; char _cf_race_flags=0; char _fcPath0[ ] = {2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 0}; char _fcPath1[ ] = {2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 0}; #define _cfSET_RACE(x) _cf_race_flags |= x #define _cfRACE(x) _cf_race_flags & x #define _cfNORACE ! (_cf_race_flags) #define _cfPUSH(x) _control_flow_stack[_cf_stack_index]=x, _cf_stack_index++ #define _cfRESET(x) _control_flow_stack[0]=x,_cf_stack_index=1,_cf_race_flags=0 #define _cfVERIFY(p) strcmp(_control_flow_stack,p)==0 #define _cfERROR printf(“control flow error detected\n”) #endif #endif /********************************************************************/ int f (int x, int d) { int i; /* starting point of the program part to be protected */ #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION _cfRESET(2); #endif /* definition of the possible scenarios (optional) */ #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION if (x != 1) _cfSET_RACE(1); #endif #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION if (x == 1) _cfSET_RACE(2); #endif for(i=0; i<3; i++) { /* tells cfprotect that this loop has 3 turns */ #pragma loop 3 #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION _cfPUSH(3); #endif action1(d); } /* all the race must pass here, the flags are automatically numbered */ #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION _cfPUSH(4); #endif if (x == 1) { action2 (d); } /* verification of the stack consistency, i.e. that the stack of flags  is consistent regarding the control flow of the program */ #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION _control_flow stack[_cf_stack_index]=0; if (!((_cfNORACE && (_cfVERIFY(_fcPath0) || _cfVERIFY(_fcPath1))) || ((!(_cfRACE(1)) || (_cfVERIFY(_fcPath0))) && (!(_cfRACE(2)) || (_cfVERIFY(_fcPath1)))))) { _cfERROR; } #endif } void action2 (int d) { /* the race 1 must pass here and race 0 must not */ #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION _cfPUSH(1); #endif #ifdef CONTROL_FLOW_PROTECTION  _control_flow_stack[_cf_stack_index]=0;  if (!((_cfNORACE && (_cfVERIFY(_fcPath1))) || ((!(_cfRACE(1)) &&  (!(_cfRACE(2)) || (_cfVERIFY(_fcPath1)))))))  { _cfERROR; } #endif action21(d); action22(d); }

The precompiler defines the data structures used for the check. These data structures can be divided into two types: static and dynamic. The dynamic data structures are as follows:

-   -   1. A byte array which will store the stack of beacons crossed         successively as the program is executed.     -   2. A byte indicating the stack size.

3. A byte designating the permissible path families. char _control_flow_stack[8]; char _cf_stack_index=0; char _cf_race_flags=0;

The static data describes the permissible beacon stacks; in our case: char _fcPath0[ ] = {2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 0}; char _fcPath1[ ] = {2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 0};

This data is calculated by the preprocessor using the control flow graph of the program, also calculated by the preprocessor (see FIG. 2). Analysis of this graph indicates which beacon series correspond to execution leading from a reset beacon to a verification beacon.

The precompiler also defines a set of functions, C macros in fact, used during the beacon passages. These functions are as follows: #define _cfSET_RACE(x) _cf_race_flags |= x #define _cfRACE(x) _cf_race_flags & x #define _cfNORACE !(_cf_race_flags) #define _cfPUSH(x) _control_flow_stack[_cf_stack_index]=x, _cf_stack_index++ #define _cfRESET(x) _control_flow_stack[0]=x,_cf_stack_index=1,_cf_race_flags=0 #define _cfVERIFY(p) strcmp(_control_flow stack,p)==0 #define _cfERROR printf(“control flow error detected\n”)

1. _cfSET_RACE(x) is used to indicate that the execution family encoded by x is permissible.

2. _cfRACE(x) tests whether the family encoded by x has actually been activated, in this case only the executions of this family are permitted.

3. _cfNORACE indicates that no families have been activated, in this case all executions consistent with the control flow graph are permissible.

4. _cfPUSH(x) pushes the beacon x onto the stack; the precompiler assigns a unique identifier to each start or flag beacon.

5. _cfRESET(x) empties the stack of beacons.

6. _cfVERIFY(p) compares the stack of beacons with an array representing a permissible stack (one of the precalculated static arrays).

7. _cfERROR indicates the procedure to be executed in case of error detection.

The following functions are used to implant the error detection:

-   -   A directive start is replaced by a reset beacon encoded by         _cfRESET(x) where x is the symbol allocated to the beacon         concerned.     -   A directive flag . . . is replaced by a beacon encoded by         _cfPUSH(x) where x is the symbol allocated to the beacon         concerned.     -   A directive race n cond is replaced by if (cond)_cfSET_RACE(x)         where x encodes the family n of execution.     -   A directive verify is replaced by a test, specific to the point         of the program where it is located, which checks that the stack         of beacons corresponds to a permissible execution, in view of         the families activated. This check is based in particular on the         static data calculated by the preprocessor.     -   The directives loop n are used by the precompiler only, which         removes them after its calculation.

In the example proposed, the checks are carried out at the end of function f and in function action2. The arrays _fcPath0 and _fcPath1 define the permissible executions. There are two execution families, the first consists of _fcPath0 and the second of _fcPath1. _fcPath0 corresponds to the execution which does not pass by the call of action2(d); _fcPath1 corresponds to the execution which passes by the call of action2(d).

If a check fails, this means that the stack representing the beacons crossed successively does not agree with the control flow graph of the program. We can deduce that an error has been injected during execution.

The securing method is remarkable in that the functions implemented in the calculation are modified by adding in several positions and automatically:

1. Static information generated by the automatic process.

2. A dynamic part of the memory of the electronic system allocated by the automatic process.

3. Beacons and check points to mark out the code, introduced by the automatic process.

4. Beacon functions storing information in the dynamic memory.

5. History verification functions using the static information and the dynamic memory to check that no errors have been introduced. 

1. Method to secure the execution of at least one module in an electronic unit comprising information processing means and information storage means, characterised in that, during the execution of said module, it consists, during the passage by at least one beacon, in storing one or more items of information concerning one or more characteristics of said beacon and in checking, at at least one check point, the consistency of the information stored about all beacons encountered.
 2. Method to secure at least one module designed to be integrated in an electronic unit including information processing means and information storage means, characterised in that it integrates automatically in said module equipped with a set of directives a set of static data, beacon functions and verification functions, the first representing a set of valid executions, the second calculating dynamically a representation of the execution, and the last used to check the consistency of the static and dynamic data.
 3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that it uses the control flow graph of the program to be protected to generate the static information used by the verification functions.
 4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that a beacon is information which defines the characteristics of the corresponding passage point and/or one or more other passage points.
 5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that a beacon is one of the following elements, a combination of several of them, or all of them: an integer locating the beacon in the code to be protected; a Boolean variable defining whether it is the first or the last beacon; a data structure characterising, according to the value of a register or a given variable, all beacons through which passage will be forbidden (using a verification function) in the remaining execution; a data structure characterising, according to the value of a register or a given variable, all beacons through which passage will be forced (using a verification function) in the remaining execution.
 6. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that a beacon function is one which is called by the program at each passage by a beacon and which will consist in storing dynamically in the shared memory various items of information concerning the beacon.
 7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that a beacon function is one which pushes the beacon onto the stack in the shared memory and/or one which updates a checksum contained in the shared memory with the beacon data.
 8. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that a history verification function is one called at each check point to check the consistency of the information stored in the shared memory during the successive calls of the beacon functions.
 9. Electronic unit including information processing means and information storage means containing at least one module to be executed characterised in that it includes the means required, during the execution of said module, and during the passage by at least one beacon, to store one or more items of information concerning one or more characteristics of said beacon in said storage means and means to check, at at least one check point, the consistency of the information stored about all beacons encountered.
 10. Program including program code instructions to execute the steps of the method according to one of claims 1 to 6 when said program is run in an electronic unit. 